How Six Children Became Orphans In The Mediterranean This Week

CATANIA, Sicily - On Friday morning as Italian politicians and NGOs were about to debate the rules and regulations of rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean, six newly-orphaned children stepped off a boat in Sicily.

Each of their parents died in an over-crowded and collapsing rubber dinghy, almost certainly a cheap, non-sea worthy vessel shipped from China that leaked fuel which, when mixed with sea water, created a highly-corrosive liquid that burned those trapped within.

"I saw the bodies - it was awful," said Save the Children's Rik Goverde who was on board the ship that brought the children to shore.

Thirteen people died in total on Monday night, including two pregnant women, but over 160 were saved from the dinghy by the NGO, Open Arms.

Roger Alonso, also of Save the Children, told HuffPost UK: "Apparently the rubber boat deflated during the night because it was quite hot and it collapsed with more than 160+ people on board.

"Normally they carry 120-130 people which is already overloaded so I cannot imagine what it must have been like.

"Apparently, the fuel mixing with the sea water when the boat collapsed caused fumes which is how some people died."